Front panel construction for refuse compactor drawer

ABSTRACT

A refuse compactor drawer having interchangeable front panel means permitting a customized installation. Different front panel elements for use therein include wraparound panels and flat panel inserts bordered by a picture frame type edging means. The different panel structures are replaceable by the user as with common household tools to permit a customized installation. The drawer includes a front mounting panel and means for mounting the different decorative panel configurations selectively thereto.

United States Patent 1 Sulcek Nov. 20, 1973 FRONT PANEL CONSTRUCTION FORREFUSE COMPACTOR DRAWER [75] Inventor: Charles E. Sulcek, Danville, Ky.

[7 3] Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich.

[22] Filed: Mar. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 238,240

[52] US. Cl 312/204, 312/214, 312/257 A [51] Int. Cl A47b 47/00 [58]Field of Search 312/204, 257 A, 230, 312/214; 40/152, 155; 5/280;126/200;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,188,023 1/1940 Tomsche16/124 2,720,683 10/1955 Schwenker et a1. 312/257 A 3 ,040,848 6/1962Powell et al. 312/257 A 3,105,726 10/1963 Jung 312/257 A 3,294,46112/1966 Barnard 312/213 3,408,127 10/1968 Vincens 312/204 X 3,613,28010/1971 Tuchinsky et al. 40/155 3,628,841 12/1971 Sulcek 312/204 PrimaryExaminer-James T. McCall Attorney-James S. Nettleton et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A refuse compactor drawer having interchangeable frontpanel means permitting a customized installation. Difi'erent front panelelements for use therein include wraparound panels and flat panelinserts bordered by a picture frame type edging means. The differentpanel structures are replaceable by the user as with common householdtools to permit a customized installation. The drawer includes a frontmounting panel and means for mounting the different decorative panelconfigurations selectively thereto.

15 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to receptacles and in particular to a front construction forproviding interchangeable 'decorative front panel mountings onreceptacles such SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventioncomprehends an improved front construction for a receptacle, such as adrawer,

permitting the selective mounting therein of any one of a plurality ofdifferent decorative panel elements, including a one-piece wraparoundpanel, and flat panels received in a picture frame type edge means. Thefront construction includes a removable handle which cooperates with thepanel mounting means for retaining the interchangeable panels in thefront construction.

The front construction may also include a toe plate element cooperatingwith the panel mounting means for ready removable mounting of the toeplate therein.

More specifically, the invention comprehends the provision of such afront construction in a receptacle, such as a refuse compactor drawer,including a vertical front mounting panel fixedly carried on thereceptacle and having turned edge portions each defining a forwardlyextending side portion and a returned distal portion and a forwardlyextending bottom edge portion, and a decorator panel having turned edgeseach defining a rearwardly extending side portion and a returned distalportion, and securing means removably securing the decorator panel tothe mounting panel with the turned edges embracing the mounting panelturned edge portions with the decorator panel forwardly overlying themounting panel.

Further more specifically, the decorative panel and mounting means maycomprise a pair of trim strips extending one each vertically along themounting panel edge portions, each trim strip defining a side portionfacially abutting the adjacent mounting panel edge side portion and aturned front distal portion spaced forwardly of the adjacent mountingpanel edge distal portion to define therebetween a slot, a finish panelextending across the front of the mounting panel and having side edgesreceived in the slots, retaining means removably securing the trimstrips to the mounting panel edge portions, a picture frame trim havinga bottom portion embracing the mounting panel bottom edge portion andside portions embracing the mounting panel edge portions and trim stripssecured thereto, and securing means for securing the picture frame trimto the mounting panel.

The drawer panel construction of the present invention is extremelysimple and economical of manufacture while yet providing highlydesirable facility in" the mounting of decorative panels thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE D AWING I Other features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an appliance, such as a refusecompactor, having a drawerftype container provided with a front panelconstruction embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating one form of thepanel construction;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section taken substantiallyalong the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section taken substantiallyalong the line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of another form offront panel construction embodying the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section similar to that ofFIG. 4 but of the modified form of panei construction shown in FIG. 6;and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section similar to that ofFIG. 5 but of the modified form of panel construction shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the exemplary embodiment ofthe invention as disclosed in the drawing, an appliance, such as arefuse compactor, generally designated 10 having a drawer receptaclegenerally designated 11 is provided with a front panel constructiongenerally designated 12 arranged to permit the selective use ofdifferent decorative panels such as a slip-in flat panel 13, as shown inFIGS. 15, and a wraparound type panel 1 13, as shown in FIGS. 6-8.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the receptacle 11 may include a frontmounting panel 14 having side edges 15 and 16 defining intumed flanges17 and I8, respectively, spaced forwardly of the flat mid-portion 19 ofthe mounting panel. The mounting panel further includes a bottom edge20intumed to define a flange 21 spaced forwardly of the panel mid-portion19 at the bottom thereof.

The panel construction 12 further includes in the form of FIGS. 1-5, apair of trim strips 22 and 23 each having a side portion 24 and anintumed flange 25. The side portions 24 are provided with suitable holes26 aligned with corresponding holes 27 in the turned portions 15 and 716of the mounting panel for receiving suitable screws 28 to secure thetrim strips to the edge portions 15 and 16, as best seen in FIG. 5.Thus, the trim strip flanges 24 are spaced forwardly of the mountingpanel flanges 17 and 18 to define therebetween inwardly opening slots 29adapted to receive the side edges 30 of the decorative panel 13.

Panel construction 12 further includes a frame trim generally designated31 having side portions 32 and 33 and a bottom portion 34. Each of sideportions 32 and 33 includes an intumed rear edge 35 having a forwardlyturned distal flange 36, and a turned front edge 37 having a rearwardlyturned distal flange 38. Bottom portion 34 includes a forward turnededge 39 having a rearwardly turned distal flange 40.

As shown in FIG. 5, turned edges 35 and distal flange 36 embrace therear edge 41 of the trim strip and front edge 37 and distal flange 38embrace the turned flange 25 of the trim strip overlying the screws 28and defining a decorative picture frame type molding edge means coveringthe edges of the panel 13. Similarly, the bottom edge portion 34 coversthe bottom of the panel 13 to define a horizontal bottom portion of thepicture frame molding.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom 42 of the panel 13 overlies the bottomedge 34 of the frame trim 31. A toe plate 43 may be mounted subjacentthe front panel construction and may include a horizontal portion 44sandwiched between the bottom edge 20 of the mounting panel 14 and thebottom portion 34 of the frame trim 31 for releasably mounting the toeplate on the drawer construction. As shown, the bottom edge 34 of theframe trim may be secured to the bottom edge of the mounting panel bysuitable screws 45 extending upwardly through the frame trim bottom edge34, the toe plate portion 44, and the mounting panel edge portion 20(FIG. 4). The toe plate may include an upwardly projecting rear portion46 abutting the rear surface of the lower end of the mounting panel 14to provide improved rigidity to the toe plate.

The top of the door construction 12 comprises a handle 47 which mayinclude an upper gripping portion 48, a horizontal cover portion 49, aforward depending flange 50, a middle depending flange 51, and a reardepending flange 52. The handle is secured to the upper end 53 of themounting panel mid-portion 19 having a plurality of holes 54 therein bymeans of screws 55 extended through holes 54 and threaded through rearflange 52. As seen in FIG. 4, the front flange 50 is disposed in theplane of the turned edge 37,38 of the frame trim 31. The cover portion49 effectively covers the upper end of portions 15-18 of the frontmounting panel 14, the trim strips 22 and 23, and the side portions 32and 33 of frame trim 31 to complete the peripheral enclosure of thepanel 13.

As indicated briefly above, the front panel construction 12 is furtherarranged to permit the use of a wraparound type panel 113, as shown inFIGS. 6-8. Thus, a suitable wraparound panel 1 13, which may be formedof sheet metal or the like, may include rearwardly turned side portions56 and 57 having distal intumed flanges 58 and 59, respectively, spacedrearwardly of the front flat panel portion 60. The panel 14 may furtherinclude a rearwardly turned bottom portion 61 provided with suitableholes 62 for passing screws 45 for securing the portion 44 of the toeplate 43. The panel portion 60 may further carry a rearwardly turnedflange 63 at the upper end which engages the depending flange 51 ofhandle 47 in the assembled relationship of the door construction, asshown in FIG. 7. As further shown in FIG. 7, the depending flange 50 ofthe handle 47 overlies the upper portion of front panel 113 to cooperatewith flange 51 in retaining the upper portion of the panel securelytherebetween. The lower end of the panel is effectively secured in thedoor construction by the screws 45 threaded to the bottom edge 20 of thefront mounting panel 14.

Handle 47 effectively closes the top of the panel 113 to complete themounting of the panel in the door construction. The handle is secured tothe mounting panel 14 by the screws 55. As shown in FIG. 8, when thewraparound panel 1 13 is utilized, screws 28 are not utilized. In lieuthereof, screws 64 may be passed through suitable openings 65 in theflanges 58 and 59 to be threaded to suitable openings 66 in the mountingpanel 14 to secure the panel 113' to the mounting panel 14 along theside edges thereof; Screws 45, 55 and 64 are effectively hidden so. thatthewraparound panel 113 presents an unbroken, finished appearance at thefront of the drawer.

Installation of the different panels, as discussed above, may be readilyeffected by-the useras by use of conventional household tools. Thus, tosubstitute a different panel 13, the user needmerely open the drawer l1,and by using a conventional screwdriver, he may then remove the screws55 whereupon the handle 47 may be removed from the assembly. Removal ofhandle 47 permits sliding withdrawal of the panel edge portions 30 inthe side slots 29.v The new panel may then be slid into place whereuponthe handle 47 may be remounted with screws55 to secure the new panel inposition, as shown in FIG. 4.

Where the replacement panel comprises a wrap: around panel 60, it may beinstalled by removing the drawer 11 from the apparatus 10 and turning itupside down. By using a conventional screwdriver, the user may thenremove the screws 45 whereupon the frame trim 31 may be slid upwardly toremove it from the assembly. The trim strip screws 28 may then beremoved to remove them from the assembly. The panel 60 may then beinstalled by sliding the panel downwardly onto the side edges 15 and 16of the mounting panel 14 with the wraparound panel being secured to themounting panel by the screws 64 cooperating with the holes 66 asdiscussed above. The toe plate 43 is reinstalled by means of screws 45as shown in FIG. 7 to complete the installation of the panel 60.

Thus, the present invention permits interchangeably mounting differenttypes of panels to the receptacle front by facilitated means permittingthe user to effect such changing with common household tools, such as ascrewdriver. The front construction includes a mounting panel portionmounted integrally with the drawer and arranged to permit thefacilitated installation of the outer decorative panel means thereon.The front construction also permits facilitated installation and removalof the toe plate and the overlying handle.

The handle further defines means for closing the top of the frontconstruction with any of the different panel elements used therein. Thehandle further defines means for supporting the upper end of thedecorative panel. The trim strips provide means for slidably mountingthe edges of the flat panel 13 and adapt the drawer construction for usewith the decorative picture frame means 31. The panels 113 may be formedof any desirable material, such as plastics, steel, veneers, fab

ric, paper, or plastic covered sheets, etc.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of thebroad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

Having described the invention, the embodiments of the invention inwhich an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined asfollows:

1. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising: a vertical frontmounting panel fixedly carried on the receptacle and defining a U-shapededge structure having turned edge portions each defining a forwardlyextending side portion and a returned distal flange portion, and aforwardly extending bottom edge portion; a pair of trim strips extendingone each vertically along said mounting panel edge portion, each saidtrim strip defining a side portion facially abutting the adjacent saidmounting panel edge side portion and a turned front distal portionspaced forwardly of the adjacent said mounting panel edge distal portionto define therebetween a slot; a finish panel extending across the frontof said mounting panel and having side edges received in said slots;retaining means removably securing said trim strips to said mountingpanel edge portions; a U- shaped frame trim having a bottom portionembracing said mounting panel bottom edge portion, and side portionsembracing said mounting panel edge portions and trim strips securedthereto; and securing means for securing said frame trim to saidmounting panel.

2. The receptacle front construction of claim 1 wherein said securingmeans secures said bottom portion of the frame trim to said mountingpanel bottom edge portion.

3. The receptacle front construction of claim 1 wherein said frame trimside portions define channels slidably receiving said trim strips.

4. The receptacle front construction of claim 1 wherein said frame trimside portions cover said retaining means.

5. The receptacle front construction of claim 1 wherein said retainingmeans comprises a plurality of screws, and said mounting panel sideportions define holes into which said screws are threaded.

6. The receptacle front construction of claim 1 further including ahandle structure, and means removably securing the handle structure tothe top of said mounting panel, said handle structure overlying theupper ends of said trim strips and frame trim side portions.

7. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising: a vertical frontmounting panel fixedly carried in the receptacle and defining a U-shapededge structure having turned edge portions each defining a .forwardlyextending side portion and a returned distal portion, and a forwardlyextending bottom edge portion; a decorator panel having turned edgeseach defining a rearwardly extending side portion and a returned distalportion; and securing means removably securing said decorator panel tosaid mounting panel with said turned edges embracing said mounting panelturned edge portions with said decorator panel forwardly overlying saidmounting panel.

8. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising: a vertical frontmounting panel fixedly carried in the receptacle and having turned edgeportions each defining a forwardly extending side portion and a returneddistal portion, and a forwardly extending bottom edge por-.

tion; a decorator panel having turned edges each defining a rearwarldyextending side portion and a returned distal portion, and a rearwardlyturned bottom edge underlying said mounting panel bottom edge portion;and securing means removably securing said decorator panel to'saidmounting panel with said turned edges embracing said mounting panelturned edge portions with said decorator panel forwardly overlying saidmounting panel.

9. The receptacle front construction of claim 7 wherein said securingmeans comprises a plurality of screws extending forwardly through saiddecorator panel returned distal portion and threaded to said mountingpanel.

10. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising: a vertical frontmounting panel fixedly carried in the receptacle and having tumed edgeportions each defining a forwardly extending side portion and a returneddistal portion, and a forwardly extending bottom edge portion; adecorator panel having turned edges each defining a rearwardly extendingside portion and a returned distal portion, and a rearwardly turnedbottom edge underlying said mounting panel bottom edge portion and adepending toe plate having a turned flange secured between said mountingpanel bottom edge portion and said decorator panel bottom edge; andsecuring means removably securing said decorator panel to said mountingpanel with said turned edges embracing said mounting panel turned edgeportions with said decorator panel forwardly overlying said mountingpanel.

11. The receptacle front construction of claim 7 further including ahandle structure, and means removably securing the handle structure tothe top of said mounting panel, said handle structure overlying theupper ends of said panels. i

12. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising:

a vertical front mounting panel fixedly carried on the receptacle andhaving turned edge portions each defining a forwardly extending sideportion and a returned distal portion and a forwardly extending bottomportion, said panel having a first plurality of screw threading holesspaced vertically adjacent said turned edge portions and a secondplurality of screw threading holes spaced vertically in said forwardlyextending side portions; and

means cooperating selectively with said first and second plurality ofholes for selectively mounting different constructed first and seconddecorative front panels to said mounting panel.

13. The receptacle front construction of claim 12 I wherein said meansfor selectively mounting said panels includes means adapted to definewith said mounting panel slot means for holding the edges of a flatdecorative front panel.

14. The receptacle front construction of claim 12 wherein said mountingpanel is formed of sheet metal and said means for selectively mountingsaid panels includes a plurality of screws selectively threaded to saidsheet metal mounting panel.

15. The receptacle front construction of claim 12 wherein said mountingpanel further includes a top por tion provided with a plurality ofhorizontally spaced screw threading holes and said front constructionfurther includes a horizontally elongated handle and screw means forthreaded association with said holes for securing said handle to saidmounting panel.

* a r x

1. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising: a vertical frontmounting panel fixedly carried on the receptacle and defining a U-shapededge structure having turned edge portions each defining a forwardlyextending side portion and a returned distal flange portion, and aforwardly extending bottom edge portion; a pair of trim strips extendingone each vertically along said mounting panel edge portion, each saidtrim strip defining a side portion facially abutting the adjacent saidmounting panel edge side portion and a turned front distal portionspaced forwardly of the adjacent said mounting panel edge distal portionto define therebetween a slot; a finish panel extending across the frontof said mounting panel and having side edges received in said slots;retaining means removably securing said trim strips to said mountingpanel edge portions; a U-shaped frame trim having a bottom portionembracing said mounting panel bottom edge portion, and side portionsembracing said mounting panel edge portions and trim strips securedthereto; and securing means for securing said frame trim to saidmounting panel.
 2. The receptacle front construction of claim 1 whereinsaid securing means secures said bottom portion of the frame trim tosaid mounting panel bottom edge portion.
 3. The receptacle frontconstruction of claim 1 wherein said frame trim side portions definechannels slidably receiving said trim strips.
 4. The receptacle frontconstruction of claim 1 wherein said frame trim side portions cover saidretaining means.
 5. The receptacle front construction of claim 1 whereinsaid retaining means comprises a plurality of screws, and said mountingpanel side portions define holes into which said screws are threaded. 6.The receptacle front construction of claim 1 further including a handlestructure, and means removably securing the handle structure to the topof said mounting panel, said handle structure overlying the upper endsof said trim strips and frame trim side portions.
 7. In a receptacle, afront construction comprising: a vertical front mounting panel fixedlycarried in the receptacle and defining a U-shaped edge structure havingturned edge portions each defining a forwardly extending side portionand a returned distal portion, and a forwardly extending bottom edgeportion; a decorator panel having turned edges each defining arearwardly extending side portion and a returned distal portion; andsecuring means removably securing said decorator panel to said mountingpanel with said turned edges embracing said mounting panel turned edgeportions with said decorator panel forwardly overlying said mountingpanel.
 8. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising: a verticalfront mounting panel fixedly carried in the receptacle and having turnededge portions each defining a forwardly extending side portion and areturned distal portion, and a forwardly extending bottom edge portion;a decorator panel having turned edges each defining a rearwarldyextending side portion and a returned distal portion, and a rearwardlyturned bottom edge underlying said mounting panel bottom edge portion;and securing means removably securing said decorator panel to saidmounting panel with said turned edges embracing said mounting panelturned edge portions with said decorator panel forwardly overlying saidmounting panel.
 9. The receptacle front construction of claim 7 whereinsaid securing means comprises a plurality of screws extending forwardlythrough said decorator panel returned distal portion and threaded tosaid mounting panel.
 10. In a receptacle, a front constructioncomprising: a vertical front mounting panel fixedly carried in thereceptacle and having turned edge portions each defining a forwardlyextending side portion and a returned distal portion, and a forwardlyextending bottom edge portion; a decorator panel having turned edgeseach defining a rearwardly extending side portion and a returned distalportion, and a rearwardly turned bottom edge underlying said mountingpanel bottom edge portion and a depending toe plate having a turnedflange secured between said mounting panel bottom edge portion and saiddecorator panel bottom edge; and securing means removably securing saiddecorator panel to said mounting panel with said turned edges embracingsaid mounting panel turned edge portions with said decorator panelforwardly overlying said mounting panel.
 11. The receptacle frontconstruction of claim 7 further including a handle structure, and meansremovably securing the handle structure to the top of said mountingpanel, said handle structure overlying the upper ends of said panels.12. In a receptacle, a front construction comprising: a vertical frontmounting panel fixedly carried on the receptacle and having turned edgeportions each defining a forwardly extending side portion and a returneddistal portion and a forwardly extending bottom portion, said panelhaving a first plurality of screw threading holes spaced verticallyadjacent said turned edge portions and a second plurality of screwthreading holes spaced vertically in said forwardly extending sideportions; and means cooperating selectively with said first and secondplurality of holes for selectively mounting different constructed firstand second decorative front panels to said mounting panel.
 13. Thereceptacle front construction of claim 12 wherein said means forselectively mounting said panels includes means adapted to define withsaid mounting panel slot means for holding the edges of a flatdecorative front panel.
 14. The receptacle front construction of claim12 wherein said mounting panel is formed of sheet metal and said meansfor selectively mounting said panels includeS a plurality of screwsselectively threaded to said sheet metal mounting panel.
 15. Thereceptacle front construction of claim 12 wherein said mounting panelfurther includes a top portion provided with a plurality of horizontallyspaced screw threading holes and said front construction furtherincludes a horizontally elongated handle and screw means for threadedassociation with said holes for securing said handle to said mountingpanel.